The goal is targeted at kids who have nowhere to go and nothing to do but get in trouble at night.

There is also a classroom element, focusing on leadership, integrity and financial literacy.

"The basketball's the hook. The real rub for us and Boys Hope/Girls Hope is to get these at-risk kids and give them some training, some intervention and some conflict-resolution training,” Blackwell said.

Officers plan to be mentors and coaches for the kids who take part.

The chief says they even plan to have Bengals players coach.

Hoops for Hope will organize teams at different community centers around the city who will play each other.

FIGHTING CRIME... BY GETTING KIDS OFF OUR STREETS! TONIGHT... CINCINNATI'S CHIEF OF POLICE... IS TAKING ON CRIME.. BUT PUTTING A BALL... IN A KIDS HAND. IT'S CALLED ""HOOPS-- FOR HOPE." BRIAN HAMRICK IS LIVE IN OUR NEWSROOM WITH MORE. THIS IS A NEW EFFORT TARGETING THE MOST AT-RISK KIDS IN THE CITY. IT'S CALLED A MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL LEAGUE. CINCINNATI POLICE AND BOYS-HOPE ... GIRL'S-HOPE ARE TEAMING UP. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE... THERE A LOT OF KIDS WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO GO AND NOTHING TO DO BUT GET IN TROUBLE AT NIGHT. THAT'S WHEN THIS PLAN KICKS INTO GEAR. IT'S CALLED HOOPS FOR HOPE... MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL. THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF LOGISTICS TO BE WORKED OUT. BUT THERE'S A CLASSROOM ELEMENT TO THIS ... FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, FINANCIAL LITERACY. (chief blackwell "The basketball's the hook. The real rub for us and boy's hope, girl's hope... Is to get these at risk kids and give them some training, some intervention... Some conflict resolution training.") POLICE OFFICER'S WILL BE MENTORS AND COACHES... THE CHIEF SAYS THEY'LL EVEN HAVE SOME BENGALS PLAYERS WHO WILL COACH. SHEREE... HOOPS FOR HOPE... WILL CONSIST OF LEAGUES THAT WILL PLAY AT DIFFERENT FACILITIES AROUND THE CITY.